Those who own dogs that are middle-aged or older may begin to notice a slight "haze" beginning to form in the dog's eye as time goes on. This is referred to as nuclear or lenticular sclerosis in dogs and is something that owners of older canines should be aware of.

The good news is that lenticular sclerosis does not appear to significantly affect a dog’s vision and isn't anything to be overly concerned about. It's considered a natural progression for dogs as they grow older with age. In fact, studies have shown that some form of lenticular sclerosis is present in nearly 100 percent of dogs over the age of 13.

However, that does not mean that lenticular sclerosis does not need to be monitored. Although relatively harmless on its own, scientists believe there is some relationship between lenticular sclerosis and cataracts in dogs. While not all dogs affected by lenticular sclerosis will develop cataracts, VCA Animal Hospitals recommends dogs with lenticular sclerosis see a veterinarian on a regular basis to monitor the potential development of cataracts.

Cataracts impair the vision of a canine and may eventually cause the dog to go blind if left untreated. Fortunately, if a cataract does form, it can be treated with surgery and the dog will typically make a full recovery.

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